UPA discriminating against Punjab: Sukhbir Badal

Chandigarh, March 10: Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal Wednesday alleged that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government has been discriminating against the state in the sharing of central taxes.

"Despite contributing 75.3 percent wheat and 50 percent paddy in the central pool, we are given only a 1.3 per cent share in the central taxes," said Badal.

He demanded greater fiscal and political autonomy for the states.

"We want that Punjab's share in the central taxes should be raised to 50 percent from existing 1.3 percent. UPA has made Punjab a highly taxed land surrounded by tax holiday enjoying hill states (indicating Himachal Pradesh) to destroy the industrial base of the state," Badal said.

He said Punjab had generated revenue of around Rs.8,000 crore in the last three years, adding this may cross Rs.10,000 crore in the next two years.